Amphibian fungal panzootic causes catastrophic and ongoing loss of biodiversity

TLDR

Anthropogenic trade and development have broken down dispersal barriers, facilitating the spread of diseases that threaten Earth's biodiversity. The study provides a global, quantitative assessment of the amphibian chytridiomycosis panzootic and demonstrates its role in the decline of at least 501 species, including 90 presumed extinctions, over the past half-century. The panzootic has caused the greatest recorded disease‑driven biodiversity loss, disproportionately affecting large‑bodied, range‑restricted anurans in wet climates of the Americas and Australia; declines peaked in the 1980s, only 12 % of affected species show recovery, 39 % continue to decline, and further outbreaks are likely.

Abstract

Anthropogenic trade and development have broken down dispersal barriers, facilitating the spread of diseases that threaten Earth's biodiversity. We present a global, quantitative assessment of the amphibian chytridiomycosis panzootic, one of the most impactful examples of disease spread, and demonstrate its role in the decline of at least 501 amphibian species over the past half-century, including 90 presumed extinctions. The effects of chytridiomycosis have been greatest in large-bodied, range-restricted anurans in wet climates in the Americas and Australia. Declines peaked in the 1980s, and only 12% of declined species show signs of recovery, whereas 39% are experiencing ongoing decline. There is risk of further chytridiomycosis outbreaks in new areas. The chytridiomycosis panzootic represents the greatest recorded loss of biodiversity attributable to a disease.